The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-05-26
Sledge Hammer Blows Skillfully
Delivered by Attorney Gen
eral j. S. Hogg.
Unanswerable Arguments Against
the Proposed Prohibitory
Amendment plain
Common Sense.
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE,
AUSTIN, May IL, 1887. J

quiry by letter of the 18th instant, beg
to say that it is true that am opposed to
the adoption of the proposed amend
ments to our constitution on the subject
of prohibition. In this respect l differ,
of course, with many of my friends. If
you were to ask me if am opposed to tenn
perance and sobriety then should cheer
fully tell you no, and that 1 yet practice
what preach in this respect.
Aside from the great fundamental
principles involved which touch the very
heart of a freeman's government, l should
oppose the proposed measure on the
grounds of its utter practicability, and
of the prolific evils that would certainly
flow from its adoption. The objects of
its advocates are commendable in so far
as they intend to abate intemperance and
to reform the morals of the wicked peo-
pie. Such results are not possible, how
ever, from prohibition or any other species
of coercion. Morality, sobriety and re-
ligion spring from different source than
brute force or the lash of law. Men can
not be made moral, forced into temper
ance or whipped into religion. The way
to happiness and to heaven is pointed out
by our Savior, whose great influence has
been most felt from his humility, meek
ness, kindness, forbearance, precept and
example. His course was approved and
sanctioned by the wisdom of God, and he
never sought to purify the people by pro-
hibitory measures in the corrupt times
when his presence became necessary on
earth.
By the powers of moral suasion in the
church and around the family hearth
stone and in the school room, followed
up by worthy example by those who lead
the way in society and business, especially
of those who assume the role of moral
reformers, temperance and sobriety will
PREVAIL for, by these methods, mems
pride and honor can be cultivated and
aroused to the elevated standard of hon
esty and truth in all things.
In revolt at dictatiOn and coercion in
private affairs men become combative
when there is hope in open resistance, but
so soon as this feeling is gone they sneak
next into the hiding places of towards,
criminals and outlaws to evade what they
conceive and contend to be oppression.
In such refugees, tricks are conjured, and
deception and hypocrisy are practiced,
and perjury is bred, nurtured and emu
lated.
The proposed amendment does not
prohibit the importation of liquors, but
it does intend to prevent the sale of them
except for medicinal, scientific, mechan-
ical and sacramental purposes. There
fore, anybody can get the liquid who may
order it by the pint, quart, gallon, keg,
barrel or cargo which he can give away or
drink at will. So, anyone can sell it or buy
it for use in Sickness" for experiments
in Science" for applications In "me-
chanicap pursuits, etc. And it is possible
barely possible-that if the amendment
is carried the saloons will close up, and,
as an expedient if closely pressed, be
transformed into drug stores; or will only
keep liquors for "sick people," scientific
gentlemen" and those engaged in the
mechanics" Add to this the fact that
Contemplating" merchants of the "immoral
Glass;" just to accommodate their Gus
toners" land to draw large crowds) will
keep barrel or so of "red eye" near a
bucket of water and sugar keg in their
back rooms, as used to be the custom, and
that this will cause the "moral" class to
keep little of the "pure quality" in
'self defense" to give their patrons, and
one can begin to see where this thing will
go.
To get whisky men will lie, if necessary,
on constitutional grounds, for most any
thirsty fellow can easily complain of
general debility" and get bottle; or he
can keep on hand some scientific or me
chanical scheme which cannot be operated
without Spirits" Join with all this the
the ingenuity OF the drinker, the skill of
the saloonist, the generosity of the mer-
chant, and the schemes of the heightened
club room, and the fallacy of "prohibi-
ton" can be seen before the blunder is
committed by the adoption of the amend
ment.
If the war is really on the evil influence
of the saloons, as some avow, then it can
be made more successful in the legisla
ture than by the present method. Remove
the screens so that all drinkers can be
seen; abolish the vulgar pictures which
arouse the evil passions; drive out the
enchanting music which draws the crowds,
and clear away the gaming tables that
afford sport, recreation and amusement |
for the patrons. step further, on this |
line, if necessary, close them up at night, |
or not permit lights to be used in the
saloons from shutdown until sunup, so that
he who goes there after night will do so
alone for a drink and must grope in the
darkness to slake his thirst Supplement
this by heavy bonds and high license; ex-
clude the sale of liquors from every other
place, and there will be some chance at
least of combining great evil under the
surveillance of law, where it can be made
to defray large share of the tax, as it
does now, and to carry all the Odium
which the rules of society and the tenn
perance people can place upon it.
This course will insure: First The
confinement of the liquor traffic within
prescribed channels, altogether unattract-
i've, except to the man who desires and
will have a stimulant. Second-The GER
tain and easy enforcement of the law
against the dealers, for every watch
full man who passes the saloon
can be witness against them
Units violations. Third - The pay
ment of a large share of the taxes of the
government, upon the sound economic
principle that evil pursuits should bear
the heaviest burdens. Fourth-The draw
ing of lines certainly and clearly between
moral and immoral pursuits, practices
and habits, so that no man can play the
hypocrite without just exposure.
The present seductive surroundings of
saloons are against public policy and they